Sta. Elena debuts vs Navy in opener

Games today (Saturday)

3 p.m. – Air Force vs IEM

5 p.m. – Navy vs Sta Elena

MANILA, Philippines - Sta. Elena Construction and Development Corp. hopes to make an impact right on its first crack in the Spikers’ Turf as it slugs it out with Navy even as Air Force collides with Instituto Estetico Manila at the start of the Reinforced Conference at The Arena in San Juan City today.

Aces from former Champion Infinity squad make up the top realty and construction firm’s roster, including San Beda’s Sylvester Honrade, Perpetual Help’s Joven Camaganakan, St. Benilde’s Angelo Espiritu, La Salle’s Mark Lee, Michael Antonio and Al-Frazin Abdulwahab along with Rhenze Hu, Roland Tonquin, Anjo Banaga and Richard Gomez.

But it will be up against a Navy squad also out to gain early momentum in the season-ending conference presented by PLDT Home Ultera and backed by Mikasa.

The Reinforced Conference, featuring six teams, is the third tournament of the fledgling league, put up not only to help boost men’s volleyball but also to give these players a venue where they could showcase their talent and skills.

PLDT Home Ultera beat Cagayan Valley to nail the first Spikers’ Turf title in the Open Conference. Ateneo posted a record sweep of the Collegiate Conference last month.

The Sta. Elena-Navy match is set at 5 p.m. after the 3 pm clash between IEM and Air Force,

Jeffrey Jimenez, Ian dela Calzada, Jason Canlas, Evan Raymundo, Michael Conde and Carlo Almario banner the IEM Volley Masters’ bid with coach Ernesto Balubar also hoping to draw solid games from Reyvic Cerilles, Salvador Timbal Jr., Carlo Cabatingan and Ivan Bacolod.

PLDT Home Ultera, meanwhile, opens its drive for a second championship against Cignal in a lone match tomorrow.

The PLDT Ultra Fast Hitters will be bannered by some of the country’s top players, including reigning NCAA MVP Howard Mojica of Emilio Aguinaldo College, Mark Alfafara of UST and Johnvic de Guzman of St. Benilde.

The top four teams after the single round elims advance to the crossover best-of-three semifinals, with the winners clashing for the season-ending conference crown, also a best-of-three playoff.

Games will be aired on PTV 4 on a delayed basis starting at 4 p.m. Mondays to Fridays and 9:15 p.m. on Saturdays.